By Allan Richard Odoch
Gulu, Uganda: Gulu City Principal Commercial Officer George Nicolas Kidega has advised farmers in the Acholi sub-region to approach coffee farming with caution, urging them to start small and avoid risky large-scale ventures amid growing excitement around the crop.
Speaking on Friday at the first Annual General Meeting of the Acholi Coffee Growers Cooperative Society Limited, Mr. Kidega cautioned that despite coffee’s profitability, farmers must understand the crop before expanding.
“We have a lot of missed information on coffee growing. Please, I advise farmers to start small. Community members still leave their animals at free range, especially during the dry season. Exact care is needed, and farmers should take coffee slowly.”
Mr. Kidega said there are a lot of investment returns on coffee because coffee prices don’t fluctuate like other commodities but it’s always good to start small. “Growing coffee does not necessarily need large acres of land for individual farmers, small gardens can do for the start”.
He also warned farmers about fake farm inputs on the market, urging them to buy in bulk from trusted suppliers. “People are advancing day and night, and farmers should be aware of fake farm inputs on the market. If you want to buy farm inputs, please buy in bulk from trusted, genuine suppliers”.
The cooperative, which is the first in the sub region, aims to cultivate over 1,000 acres of land this year with a goal of being the largest coffee producer in Uganda.
Mrs. Margret Aber, a 54-year-old farmer from Nwoya district, shared her experience of losing 3.5 million Ugandan shillings on her first attempt at coffee growing due to inexperience. She’s now taking another risk, this time with two acres, having gained more experience.
“In 2022, I planted two acres of coffee and entrusted its care in the hands of somebody else who had no experience in coffee farming. She ended up digging all the coffee seedlings away as she ploughed the garden”, said.
The Chairman of the Acholi Coffee Growers Cooperative Society Limited, Mr. Komakech Dickens Okot, attributed the sub-region’s lag in coffee growing to an information gap and high seedling costs. The cooperative is seeking government support to access affordable and quality seedlings.
“The only problem is that coffee seedlings are expensive. An acre takes about 450 seedlings and each seedlings cost between 1000/- Uganda shillings to 3,000/-, which is really expensive”, he said
Mr. Komakech added that the cooperative is looking for support from the government so that they can get suppliers to source for them affordable and quality seedlings, “our biggest challenge is finance”.
Advisor to the cooperative, Mr. Silvester Opira, expects supplies, grants, and machinery to support the cooperative, which will offer subsidies on coffee seedlings to its members. He plans to start with two acres of Robusta coffee, citing its potential in the region.
“I know Robusta coffee does very well on land here. We have already seen the potential of coffee growing in Acholi, personally I will start with two acres this season”, he added.
Coffee growing in Northern Uganda, particularly in the Acholi sub-region, has been gaining momentum in recent years. Although coffee has been grown in Uganda since the 1900s, the north has lagged behind other regions in terms of production.
The Acholi Coffee Growers Cooperative Society Limited was established to bridge this gap and tap into the region’s potential for coffee production. With its fertile soil and favorable climate, the region is well-suited for coffee growing, particularly Robusta coffee.
Efforts are underway to increase production, improve farmer knowledge, and provide support for coffee farmers in the region.
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